Superintendent outlines budget shortfall and proposed layoffs; trustees press for clearer communication

At a special meeting called by the board president, the Kingston City School District heard detailed explanations from the superintendent about a budget shortfall and possible staff reductions, and trustees pressed the administration for clearer communications and plans to keep required student services in place.

The superintendent told trustees the district faces long-term fiscal strain driven by an enrollment decline of about 870 students and a dramatic change in the state funding formula, which he said had shifted the system from roughly double-digit increases to about a 1% increase in the governor’s proposed aid. "870 students is a decline in enrollment is the equivalent of almost 3 elementary schools in the Kingston City School District," he said, and added that the budget adopted last week included "over $12,000,000 in allocated reserves." He said the board will have to increase…